An enquiry into special education
'It's really another form of apartheid. What we are looking at is an issue of segregation, not integration.'
Britain has developed a separate educational system for disabled children, but is it necessary? The 1981 Education Act promised that handicapped children could integrate into ordinary schools, and pledged a greater say for parents in the choosing of those schools. But, five years on, the Act continues to spread confusion and contention, with local education authorities failing to keep to the spirit of the law.
Kevin Mulhern reports on the current state of education for children with disabilities, and asks if special schools will ever disappear, and if the integration of children with mental or physical handicaps is possible.
John Mills chairs a studio discussion with Malcolm Gledhill , Principal Educational Psychologist for Cheshire
County Council; John Mann , Chief Education Officer for
Harrow; and Philippa Russell of the National Children's Bureau. Listeners are invited to phone in with questions and comments on [number removed]Linesopenfrom 7.0pm Producer MICK WEBB (E)
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